What Are the Domestic Violence Laws in California?
Incidents of domestic violence happen far too often in California, but false domestic violence charges are also made far too frequently. If you’re charged with a domestic violence crime in California, you must be represented by an Orange County domestic violence defense attorney. In 2018, more than 166,000 incidents of domestic violence were reported to [...]
What You Should Know If Your Child Is A Minor In Possession (MIP)
Nothing is more important than our children, and many of the laws here in California have been crafted to protect them. California’s “minor in possession” (MIP) statute, for example, makes it a crime for anyone under 21 years of age to possess an alcoholic beverage in a public setting. How does the law work, what [...]
HOW CRIMINAL LAWYERS DEFEND AGAINST SPECIFIC INTENT CHARGES (AND WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW)
One way that crimes are categorized in the criminal justice system is by an alleged perpetrator’s intent – was it a “specific” intent or a “general” intent? Exactly what is the difference between specific and general intent, and what can that difference mean if you are charged with a crime? If you’ll continue reading, you’ll [...]
Traveling When You’re On Probation – Is It Allowed?
The weather's already getting warmer. Spring and summer are the seasons when people like to travel and get away from the Southern California heat, but if you are on probation in this state after being convicted of a crime, will you be allowed to enjoy an out-of-state vacation? What exactly are California's travel rules for [...]
Can Junk Science Affect Your California Criminal Case?
Popular movies and television shows like CSI put forth the notion that "science" is the key to solving crimes. But is "forensic evidence" trustworthy? In real life, blood pattern evidence, DNA evidence, fingerprints, and other "scientific" evidence sometimes just doesn't hold up. In fact, "scientific evidence" quite often is junk science, but if a California [...]
Can A Gang Enhancement Increase Your Sentence?
You see street gangs in Hollywood movies, but that doesn't mean that the gangs are imaginary. In real life, street gangs commit a number of the drive-by shootings, drug crimes, armed robberies, and home invasions in Orange County and throughout southern California. California's Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act (the "STEP Act") – is supposed [...]
The Differences Between Reasonable Suspicion And Probable Cause
“Probable cause” and “reasonable suspicion” are two of the most important concepts in criminal law. But precisely what do these phrases mean? If you’re arrested for a crime, will probable cause or reasonable suspicion play any role in your prosecution? Can an Orange County criminal defense law firm help? HOW ARE “REASONABLE” SUSPICION AND “PROBABLE [...]
Are Charges For Computer Crimes Limited To One State?
Lawmakers in all fifty states are struggling to understand and deal with advances in technology. In many of the cases involving digital technology, computers, and the internet, criminal defense attorneys and the courts have little guidance from lawmakers and sparse help from previous court rulings. What can happen, for example, if someone in California uses [...]
How Does Victim Restitution In California Criminal Cases Work?
In cases where it is appropriate, restitution – as well as jail, probation, and fines – is ordered routinely by judges in California after a defendant receives a criminal conviction. If you become a crime victim in California, or if you are accused of a crime such as burglary, fraud, or embezzlement, you will need [...]
Can YouTube Videos Be Used As Evidence?
You’ve probably seen them – assaults, burglaries, and other crimes, in living color on YouTube, Facebook, or other social media platforms. Video evidence of a person perpetrating a crime may be introduced by the state as evidence in a criminal trial. If you are the defendant, your Orange County criminal defense attorney will either have [...]